Dry Eye in DC

July 11-12, 2025

On this page: event summaries, photos, Symposium program and exhibitors.

7/31/25 Press Release

Dry Eye Advocacy Day

On Friday, July 11, the Dry Eye Foundation and the Alliance for Vision Research hosted the first-ever Dry Eye Advocacy Day.

  • 31 patients and volunteers from 15 states and DC

  • 48 meetings attended

  • Patients shared their story and made three asks of their representatives

At noon, DEF and NAEVR presented at the Dry Eye Disease Congressional Briefing. Speakers included Dan Ignaszewski (Alliance for Vision Research), Dr. Cathy Bishop-Clark (patient), Justin Mendelson (patient), Gloria Chiu OD, Aidan Moore (DEF), Rebecca Petris (DEF),

Dry Eye in DC Reception

Reception Sponsor: EyeCool Therapeutics

Dry Eye Symposium

Speakers

Patients

Doctors

Symposium Director

Program

8:15 ET

Livestream opens

8:30 - 8:40

Symposium Welcome Address

8:40 - 9:00

Keynote Presentation
Seen Through Dry Eyes - One Woman’s Journey To Life Again

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Cathy Bishop-Clark

9:00 - 10:00

SESSION 1
”It Gets Better”: Patient Insights From the Dry Eye Journey

Speakers: Natalie Harger, Dr. Ruth Machin, Ben Makansi, Justin Mendelson

Our dry eye patient speakers will share key themes of their personal stories. In panel discussion format, they will also share insights from their experiences with topics such as the impact of DED on their lives; the journey to diagnosis, understanding of the disease and effective treatment; and how they are each doing now compared to earlier, more difficult parts of their experience.

10:00 - 10:20

Break for virtual exhibits

10:20 - 11:00

SESSION 2
Digging For A Diagnosis:  Doctor Perspectives on How To Get Answers 

Speakers: Dr. Brown, Dr. Chiu, Dr. Galor, Dr. Jacobs

Our panel of experts will discuss common challenges faced by patients who are seeking answers about their persistent dry eye symptoms, and they will provide pearls on how patients can effectively navigate the journey to diagnosis. 

Discussion topics include co-morbidities and differential diagnosis, to types of doctors or specialists patients may need to see, and the techniques, tests and equipment that may be involved in diagnosis.

11:00 - 12:30

SESSION 3
The Treatment Landscape: Broad and Deep

Speakers: Dr. Jacobs, Dr. Chiu, Dr. Galor

This session will consist of individual presentations followed by Q&A sessions, and will take us on a journey through the range of treatments as well as a deeper dive on select “hot topics” as we seek to understand the relevance of treatments to specific diagnoses and needs.

Dr. Jacobs will present a treatment overview, which will provide vital context for understanding the range of treatments and different purposes and uses of each. Dr. Galor will present on neuropathic corneal pain, a critical area of emerging medicine that is not yet thoroughly understand yet directly relevant to many people in our community experiencing corneal pain symptoms. Dr. Chiu will present on scleral lenses and their role in ocular surface disease and ocular surface pain, filling in the many information gaps for people who may have been offered scleral lenses or may be considering asking for them.

12:30 - 1:30

Break for virtual exhibits (lunch)

1:30 - 2:30

SESSION 4

“What Works?” Doctors Discuss Evidence Based Medicine in Dry Eye

Speakers: Sandra Brown MD, Deborah Jacobs MD

In this session, champions of evidence-based medicine will present about dry eye treatments and remedies from an evidence standpoint, each followed by Q&A.

“Evidence: Understanding Data Limitations and Hype in Dry Eye Treatment” - Dr. Brown will present case examples of marketing of prescription drugs and devices which creates an overly optimistic belief in treatment benefits.

“Clinical Pearls (and Consideration of the Evidence) 35 Years Managing Ocular Surface Disease” - Dr. Jacobs.

2:30 - 3:10

SESSION 5

“I Just Wish They Understood”: Patient and Doctor Insights About Appointments and Communication

Speakers: Dr. Galor, Dr. Jacobs, Natalie Harger, Ben Makansi

Our panelists will explore patient and doctor perspectives on common communication gaps and conflicts that take place during “dry eye” related medical appointments. Panelists will share insights on how we can effectively navigate appointments, bridge communication gaps and strengthen the patient-provider relationship in the process.

Topics in this discussion will include disease and pain severity; conversations about mental health; most memorable interactions (positive and negative); unspoken thoughts on both sides in dry eye appointments; and the factors that contribute most to strong patient-provider relationships.

3:10 - 3:30

Break for virtual exhibits

3:30 - 4:20

SESSION 6

“What Works?” Patient Perspectives on Solving Problems and Trying Treatments

Speakers: Natalie Harger, Dr. Ruth Machin, Ben Makansi, Justin Mendelson

What does “what works” actually mean? What’s the goal, how do we work towards it and how do we know when it’s been achieved? Our patient panelists explore what how they related to trying things and how and when they decided what was working best for them, in terms of everything from medical treatments to non-medical home page, coping strategies, communication strategies and workplace accommodations. 

Last, each panelist provides their best advice to people who are struggling to determine “what works” for them.

4:20 - 4:30

Closing Remarks

Aidan Moore, Rebecca Petris

Exhibitors